Electric gas-lighter



(No Model.)

J. GEARY.

ELECTRIC GAS LIGHTER.

No. 331,630. Patented Deo..1, 1885.

b) i j E I /4 f E Z7 4' 1/ J07, WITNESSES; [NVENTOR A TTORNE YJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GEARY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,630, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed August 14, 1983. Renewed March 14, 1595. Serial No. 158,901. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Gas-Lighters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side, and Fig. 2 a front, elevation. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the gas-lighter, showing the electrodes enlarged.

My invention has for its object to provide an electric gas-lighter capable of throwing a relatively longer and stronger spark than any device heretofore produced for the same purpose.

My invention has for its further object to so construct and combine the electrodes of an electric gas-lighter that they will in operation tend to keep each other clean and bright, so as to avoid rust, corrosion, and the accumulation of dust at their contact-points.

My improvements consist in the peculiar construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, having reference particularly to the following points: First, to the combination, in an electric gas-lighter, of a magnet and armature, said armature being pivoted on one limb of the magnet, which limb is naked, the free end of said armature moving opposite the end of the other limb of said magnet, said latter limb being wound with wire forming a helix, substantially as hereinafter set forth second, to the combination, in an electric lighter, of a magnet having two limbs, one of which is wound, the other unwound, an armature pivoted to or hinged on the unwound limb of said armature, and an electrode carried on and moving with said armature; fourth, to certain details of construction hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A

designates a gas-burner with my improvements applied thereto.

B designates a magnet having two limbs which are connected by a head or crossbar, B. One of these limbs is naked or unwound,

and is shown at B The other limb is covered or surrounded with several wrappings of insulated wire, forming a helix, 0. In winding the helix I use the same or about the same amount of wire as has been heretofore used in making the helices on both the limbs of the magnet. In other words, I leave one of the limbs naked or bare and wind all the helixwire on the other, by which means I obtain a much more powerful magnet than is secured by distributing the wire equally between or over both limbs.

D represents the armature, which is pivoted at one end on or hinged to the end of the magnet-limb B its opposite end being opposed to the core of the helix O-t-hat is, to the other limb of the magnet. Said armature carries at one end the electrode E, and at its other end is provided with the retracting-spring d and adjusting-screw d. Said armaturcmay be of uniform thickness from end to end; but I have obtained improved results by reducing its middle by forming an annular or circun1- ferential groove, d thereon.

F represents an insulated collar secured to the stem or top of the burner A, and having a projecting lug, f. In this lug is located an electrode, G, consisting of a crank-shaped rod or rod having two straight ends, 9 9, connected by a cross-piece, 9 which latter has bearings in the wings of the lug f, so as to be free to rock therein. Said electrode G is movable on its fulcrum g and tends constantly to move under the influence of a spring, 9 toward the electrode E, against which its end impinges, and has its movement in that direction limited by a stop, g, which may be a pendant from the collar F.

\Vhen the magnet B is energized, the armature D is attracted, overcoming the resistance of the spring d, and causing the electrode E to move toward the tip of the gas-burner. As said electrode E moves, the electrode G also moves, following the former up under the influence of the spring 9 until arrested by the stop As said electrodes move together, they slide upon one another at their point of con tact, which serves to keep such point clean. The electrode G being arrested by stop 9" the electrode E moves on and away from it, the armature being attracted by the magnet, thus producing the electric break and spark. The break occurring the magnet is de-energized, and the armature is thrown back by the spring (I. This brings the electrodes again into contact and causes them to slide on one another, the spring (i being more powerful than and overcoming the resistance of spring 5 I am aware that a magnet having a coil or helix on one of its limbs only, the other limb being bare, is not in itself new, such magnets having been used in telegraphic apparatus; hence I do not claim such a magnet as my own invention. I employ this special form of a magnet because it has been demonstrated by experiment that in winding one core and leaving the other core bare there is such a concentration of the magnetic field that the resultant effects in the amplification of the spark are much stronger than under any other form or method of winding.

What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. In an electric lighter, the combination, with a magnet having two limbs, one of which has a surrounding helix, the other being bare, of an armature pivoted to or hinged upon one of said limbs, said armature carrying an electrode at one end and having a retractingspring and adjustingscrew at the other end, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in an electric lighter, of two movable electrodes, one of which is attached to an armature, the other being swiv eled on an insulated collar and having a spring for imparting movement and a stop for limiting such movement, whereby said electrodes move together and slide upon each other, their separation being effected by the armatureelectrode moving farther than the collar-electrode, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric gaslighter, the combination, with a burner, of a magnet, its armature, and two movable electrodes, one of said electrodes being attached to and moving with the armature, the other electrode being pivotally secured on an insulated collar attached to the burner, the armature having a retractingspring and the pivoted electrode having a spring or equivalent means for moving it and a stop for limiting its movement, said elec trodes being normallyin contact, but moving together when the magnet is energized, the armature-electrode then moving farther than and away from the pivoted electrode, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of August, 1883.

JOHN GEARY.

\Vitnesses:

LIsLE SToKns, M. D. CONNOLLY. 

